CVE-2016-4575 in PLK
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the email APP in Huawei PLK smartphones with software AL10C00 before AL10C00B211 and AL10C92 before AL10C92B211; ATH smartphones with software AL00C00 before AL00C00B361, CL00C92 before CL00C92B361, TL00HC01 before TL00HC01B361, and UL00C00 before UL00C00B361; CherryPlus smartphones with software TL00C00 before TL00C00B553, UL00C00 before UL00C00B553, and TL00MC01 before TL00MC01B553; and RIO smartphones with software AL00C00 before AL00C00B360 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an email message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in the email application of various huawei smartphone models including plk series with software versions prior to specific build numbers and ath series with older firmware versions. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or html content through email messages, creating a persistent security risk for users. The vulnerability affects multiple device families including plk, ath, cherryplus, and rio series smartphones, indicating a widespread issue across huawei's mobile platform. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of cross-site scripting, which represents one of the most common web application security flaws. The email application serves as an attack vector where unfiltered user input from incoming messages can be executed in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially compromising user data and device integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the email application's rendering engine. When users receive emails containing malicious payloads, the application fails to properly sanitize the content before displaying it to the user interface. This allows attackers to craft specially formatted email messages that contain javascript code or html tags which execute when the email is opened. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because email applications are frequently used and trusted by users, making them ideal targets for exploitation. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that these vulnerabilities affect multiple hardware platforms and software versions, suggesting a systemic issue in the email application's security implementation. According to the mitre attack framework, this represents a technique categorized under initial access through malicious email content, potentially leading to more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or device compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and phishing attacks. Users who open compromised emails may unknowingly provide access to their device's sensitive information or be redirected to malicious websites that can further exploit their device. The vulnerability affects both personal and enterprise users, potentially compromising business email accounts and sensitive corporate communications. Organizations using huawei smartphones may face increased security risks if employees' devices are compromised through this vector, leading to potential data breaches or unauthorized access to company resources. The widespread nature of affected devices suggests that this vulnerability could impact thousands of users globally, particularly those in regions where huawei smartphones are prevalent. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of user data according to the cia triad model.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from huawei to patch the email application's input validation flaws. Users should be advised to avoid opening suspicious emails and to keep their devices updated with the latest security patches. Organizations should implement email filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious patterns in email content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in mobile applications, as recommended by secure coding practices. Security teams should monitor for any reported exploitation attempts and consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential attack patterns. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening emails from unknown senders and the importance of verifying email authenticity before interacting with content. The affected software versions should be deprecated immediately, and huawei should provide clear communication about the vulnerability and its resolution to maintain user trust and security.